PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2: Forest Ecology
Monday, August 8, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

An experimental study of anthropogenic disturbance and hardwood forest regeneration.

McCarthy, Brian¹, ¹ Ohio University, Athens, OH

ABSTRACT- Stand thinning and prescribed fire are used widely as forest management tools throughout the hardwood forests of the central Appalachians. Recent changes in historical disturbance regimes have likely altered the structure and composition of many oak-dominated forests. In particular, there is a regionally observed absence of oak regeneration in the understory of most oak-dominated forests. Restoration efforts will likely involve significant changes in disturbance regimes in order to alter the current successional trajectory. The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of hardwood regeneration in a replicated field experiment over a period of five years. Three forests were selected for study in southern Ohio. Within each forest, four adjacent 20-30 ha stands were selected, with one each randomly allocated to the following treatments: control, prescribed burn, thin, thin followed by prescribed burn. Within each treatment unit, ten 20x50 m vegetation plots were established. Seedlings and saplings were sub-sampled (density determined by species) from these plots in the year prior to treatment (2000), the year following treatment (2001), and three years later (2004). Data were analyzed with a randomized complete block mixed effects repeated measures design. Treatments had various effects dictated by species life history, reproductive episodes, and stochastic events. Fire treatments generally decreased maples following treatment, but have rebounded since. Tuliptree was most strongly influenced by burning and led to greatly enhanced reproduction and advancement into the sapling size class. Oak species responded differentially: white oak showed no response; black oak increased, and chestnut oak varied with respect to treatment. Overall, the treatments were quite effective at advancing a greater proportion of tuliptree into the succeeding forest; however, the effects of treatment on oak regeneration are unclear and will likely require more longitudinal data.

Key words: ohio, fire, thinning, oak